Dental Implants in Boca Raton | What You Need to Know About Zirconia Implants

A dental implant, in general, have two parts — the fixture, which is screwed into the bone and the abutment to which the prosthetic crown is cemented. Both parts are usually made from titanium. Titanium was and is still the most preferred material by most dental clinicians and dental implant manufacturing companies because of its high biocompatibility. But did you know that dental implants in Boca Raton also uses zirconia abutment? Zirconia is a special kind of white ceramic used alongside titanium in dental implants.

Why Zirconia is Applied in Dental Implants

Technically, pure zirconium is metal but the crystalline form used for dental implant abutment is more similar to ceramic. Therefore, the material doesn’t act like metal in the mouth. Compared to titanium, zirconia is commonly known to be more tissue-friendly. In this case, the implant fixture is still made of titanium.

Benefits of Zirconia Implants

In 2011, all-zirconia implants were introduced in the market. This means that both the fixture and the abutment are made from zirconia. Even though the all zirconia implant was relatively new, there has been a considerable increase in the use of this implant variation. Here are the benefits of zirconia implants you should know about:

• Corrosion-resistant which theoretically does not apply to titanium
• One-piece zirconia implants have no prosthetic connections where bacteria can thrive and therefore can lead to better gum condition
• Because zirconia is white, it is more natural-looking and aesthetically pleasing
• This is a better alternative for patients with titanium allergies (which are extremely rare) as zirconium implants are hypoallergenic
• Because there is no metal involved, the gums are better preserved and are healthier around ceramic materials and the color of the gums will remain natural pink

Concerns and Drawbacks

The lack of studies surrounding zirconia implants’ chemical and structural composition and the level of osseointegration achieved with this implant variation. However, even though the data about this implant is limited, it still has the potential to become a viable alternative to titanium.

Need Dental Implants in Boca Raton?

If you have any questions regarding this variation of dental implants in Boca Raton, schedule an appointment with us at Ferber Dental Group for more information.